Magnetic Device for Holding a Firearm

ABSTRACT

A device that can hold a firearm can be used to prevent the firearm from being damaged, make the firearm aesthetically appealing, absorb the heat generated during use of the firearm, and reduce kick-back generated by the firearm. The device can include an inner portion, an outer portion, and magnets between the inner portion and the outer portion. The outer portion of the device can be made of a friction resistant material, which enhances durability to endure contact with items such as a gun rack or a stabilizing object. The inner portion of the device can be made of a soft material that can be used to cushion the firearm, and optionally clean the firearm. Related methods and products are also described.

RELATED APPLICATION

This disclosure is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/738,431, entitled “Magnetic Device for Holding aFirearm” and filed on Jun. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/012,097, entitled “Device ForHolding A Firearm” and filed on Jun. 13, 2014. The contents of theabove-noted applications are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

FIELD

The subject matter described herein relates to a device that holds afirearm in order to prevent damaging the firearm, while still making thefirearm be aesthetically appealing, absorb heat generated during a useof the firearm, and reduce kick-back generated by the firearm during useof the firearm.

BACKGROUND

Firearms are tools that need to be stored so that they are accessiblewhen needed, but without allowing damage to occur to the firearm.Additionally, when in use, it is desirable to have a way of protectingthe firearm from damage, such as from friction caused by contact with astabilizing object, as well as protecting the user from vibration, heat,or other types of irritation caused by the firearm during use.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatus are provided for holding a firearm in a mannerthat insulates a portion of the firearm from its surroundings to preventthe firearm from being damaged, while still making the firearm beaesthetically appealing, absorb heat generated during use of thefirearm, and reduce kick-back generated by the firearm during use of thefirearm. The apparatus includes an outer portion, an inner portion, andmagnets between the outer portion and the inner portion so that theapparatus can hold itself in place on the barrel of a firearm. Theapparatus can optionally include a padding layer between the outerportion and the inner portion. The outer portion of the apparatus can bedurable and friction resistant. The inner portion of the apparatus canbe soft, as well as capable of being used to clean the firearm ofdebris, gunpowder, dirt, and the like.

Methods described herein include using the apparatus to store a firearmwhile protecting the firearm from its surroundings. Methods presentedherein can also include using the apparatus to protect the firearm fromscratches caused by using the firearm with a support object, such as astabilizing block. Additionally, or alternatively, the methods caninclude using the apparatus to clean the outside of the firearm, such asto wipe off lead, gunpowder and its residue, other dirt, or anycombination thereof. The methods can also include using the apparatus tomitigate vibration, force, or heat transfer between the firearm and auser, such as when discharging (e.g., firing) the firearm.

In one aspect, an apparatus is described that can include an outerportion, an inner portion, and at least two magnets between the outerportion and the inner portion. The at least two magnets can hold theouter portion and the inner portion in place on a barrel of a firearm.

In some variations, one or more of the following can additionally beimplemented either individually or in any feasible or suitablecombination. The apparatus can further include a padding layer betweenthe outer portion and the inner portion. The outer portion can beconfigured to resist friction. The outer portion can be made of one ormore of: leather, polyurethane, imitation leather, regenerated leather,bonded leather, canvas, coated canvas, suede, heavy cloth, reptile skin,and sheepskin. The inner portion can be configured to be soft. The innerportion can be made of one or more of: cloth, felt, padding, plushmaterial, synthetic material, artificial fur, animal fur, sheepskin, andsilk. The inner portion can be configured to be used to clean at leastone of debris, gunpowder, and dirt on the barrel of the firearm.

The apparatus can further include a centerline. The centerline can bealigned with the barrel of the firearm when the firearm is in use andwith at least one magnet on each side centerline of the apparatus. Theat least two magnets can be made of a same material and have a sameshape. A shape of each of the outer portion and the inner portion can beone of elliptical, oval, and circular. A diameter of each of the outerportion and the inner portion can allow each of the outer portion andthe inner portion to cover more than half of the barrel of the firearm.In one implementation, the diameter can be 6 inches or more than 6inches. In another implementation, the diameter can be 6.75 inches ormore than 6.75 inches.

In another aspect, an apparatus can be applied to a barrel of a firearm.The apparatus can include an outer portion, an inner portion, and atleast two magnets between the outer and inner portions. The at least twomagnets can be configured to hold the outer portion and the innerportion in place on the barrel of the firearm. The firearm with theapplied apparatus can be stored in a gun rack.

In some variations, one or more of the following can additionally beimplemented either individually or in any feasible or suitablecombination. The gun rack can include one or more depressions configuredto store the firearm. The apparatus can further include a padding layerbetween the outer portion and the inner portion.

In yet another aspect, an apparatus can be applied to a barrel of afirearm. The apparatus can include an outer portion, an inner portion,and at least two magnets between the outer and inner portions. The atleast two magnets can be configured to hold the outer portion and theinner portion in place on the barrel of the firearm. The firearm withthe applied apparatus can be placed on a support object.

In some variations, one or more of the following can additionally beimplemented either individually or in any feasible or suitablecombination. The firearm can be placed on the support object byoverlaying the applied apparatus on the support object. The appliedapparatus can minimize transfer of vibration, force, and heat generated,when the firearm is discharged, to a user discharging the firearm. Theapparatus can further include a padding layer between the outer portionand the inner portion.

The above-noted aspects and features may be implemented in systems,apparatuses, methods, and/or articles depending on the desiredconfiguration. The details of one or more variations of the subjectmatter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings andthe description below. Features and advantages of the subject matterdescribed herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, andfrom the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows an example of a device for holding a firearm placed arounda barrel of a firearm;

FIG. 2 shows another view of the example of the device for holding afirearm placed around the barrel of the firearm;

FIG. 3 shows another view of the example of the device for holding afirearm in use;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary device for holding a firearm without thefirearm in a closed configuration;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary device for holding a firearm without thefirearm in an open configuration, showing the soft interior of theexemplary device;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary device for holding a firearm without thefirearm in an open configuration, showing the durable exterior of theexemplary device; and

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, and 8B show an exemplary device for holding a firearmin a rack.

Like labels are used to refer to the same or similar items in thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows one view of an exemplary implementation 100 of a device 105for holding a firearm 110 in use around a barrel of firearm 110, whichis shown as a rifle. The device 105 is shown about the barrel of thefirearm 110, adjacent to the forestock of the firearm. A pair of magnetshold the device to the barrel of the firearm 110.

The device 105 can enable maintenance of the firearm 110 in a goodcondition, both during storage of the firearm 110 and usage of thefirearm 110. The device 105 can protect the firearm 110 when the firearm110 is being stored in, for example, a gun rack. The device 105 can alsoprotect the firearm 110 when the firearm 110 is in contact with asupporting object (or a supporting substance) or any other object (orsubstance) that can cause scratches or other marks due to frictionbetween the firearm and its surroundings. The device 105 can also beused to prevent the transfer of force, such as kickback or friction, ortemperature, including heat, from the firearm 110 to the user so thatdischarging (e.g., firing) the firearm is more comfortable. The device110 can also make the firearm 110 aesthetically appealing (for example,aesthetically pleasing).

As discussed above, the firearm 110 shown in FIG. 1 is a rifle. Thisrifle can be one or more of air gun, an automatic rifle, a bolt action,a double rifle, a lever-action rifle, a recoilless rifle, a repeatingrifle, a revolving rifle, a semi-automatic rifle, a short-barreledrifle, a spencer rifle, and the like. Although the firearm 110 isdescribed as a rifle, in other implementations, the firearm 110 can beany one of a handgun, a shotgun, a musket, a carbine, and the like.

FIG. 2 shows another view of the implementation 100 of a device 105 forholding a firearm 110 in use around the barrel of a firearm 110.

FIG. 3 shows the exemplary implementation 100 of the device 105 forholding a firearm in a use configuration. The device 105 is wrappedaround the barrel of the firearm 110, as also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.The inner 120 and outer 125 portions of the device 105 can be seen. Theouter portion 125 of the device is in contact with the surroundings ofthe firearm 110. In FIG. 3, the firearm 110 is shown leaning on the edgeof a stabilizing object 115. The outer portion 125 of the device 105 cancontact the edge of the stabilizing object 115 while the inner portion120 contacts the barrel of the firearm 110.

FIG. 4 shows an implementation of a device 105 for holding the firearm110. The outside portion 125 of the device 105 is shown, and the device105 is shown folded along a centerline 440. The material forming theoutside portion 125 can be any suitably durable material, such as one ormore of: leather, polyurethane (for example, imitation leather),regenerated leather (for example, bonded leather), canvas, coatedcanvas, suede, heavy cloth, reptile skin (for example, alligator,snake), sheepskin, and the like. The material forming the outsideportion 125 can be suitable for use with a wide temperature range suchas −40° C. to +50° C. or more. The material forming the outside portion125 can also withstand repeated folding, particularly along thecenterline 440 of the device. Water and stain resistance can also becharacteristics of the material forming the outside portion 125 of thedevice 105. In addition, the material forming the outside portion 125can be suitable for easy cleaning such as in a washing machine.

FIG. 5 shows an implementation of an open configuration of the device105 for holding a firearm 110. The inner portion 120 of the device isshown, and the centerline 440 is identified for easier orientationwithin the figure. On either side of the centerline 440, there is amagnet 545 (represented by circles in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) underneath thematerial of the inner portion 120. The material of the inner portion 120can be any suitably soft, easily cleaned material. Some examples ofmaterials for the inner portion 120 of the device 105 include one ormore of: cloth, felt, padding, plush material, a synthetic material,artificial fur, animal fur, sheepskin, silk, and the like. Paddingmaterial, such as wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers, can be insertedbetween the inner portion 120 and the outer portion 125 of the device105. The material used for the inner portion 120 of the device, alone orin combination with the material of the outside of the device, as wellas the padding material, can fold easily, such as along the centerline440. In addition, the material forming the inner portion 120 can besuitable for easy cleaning such as in a washing machine.

The material used for the inner portion 120 can also be used to cleanlead, gunpowder, dirt, and the like, from the outside of the firearm110. Additionally, the device 105 can be cleaned easily, such as bywashing with water, including hand washing or machine washing.

The magnets 545 can both be of the same material, or each can be of adifferent material. In some exemplary implementations, one or both ofthe magnets 545 can be rare-earth magnets or magnets of anotherferromagnetic material. The magnets 545 can be any suitable size andshape, such as disk-shaped and approximately 1.5 cm in diameter. Themagnets 545 can be held in place in the device 105 with, for example,stitching or adhesive. The location of the magnets 545 can be anylocation that is convenient for holding the device 105 in place againstthe barrel of a firearm, such as a set distance away from the centerline440 or a set distance away from the edge of the device.

FIG. 6 shows implementation of a device 105 for holding a firearm 110 inan open configuration. Two magnets 545 can be placed in the device 105,one on either side of the centerline 440. The outer portion 125 is shownin FIG. 6.

From FIGS. 5 and 6, the overall shape of the device 105 can be seen. Thedevice 105 can be elliptical or oval shaped. Alternatively, the device105 can be circular, such as disk shaped. Other shapes of the device 105are also possible, such as a square, a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon,any polygon, any irregular shape, of the like. The device 105 can have adiameter that allows the device 105 to cover much of the barrel of anaverage gun or rifle, such as about 6.25 inches (15.875 cm.), includingabout 6 inches (15.24 cm), about 6.5 inches (16.51 cm), and about 6.75inches (17.145 cm). In some embodiments, the device 105 can have adiameter ranging from about 6 inches to about 6.75 inches. Thecenterline 440 is along the minor axis of the oval or along the diameterof the circle, and the magnets 545 are shown to be a predetermineddistance away from the edge of the device 105, as measured at the majoraxis of the device 105 in the case of an oval shaped device. In someembodiments, the magnets 545 can be 0.75 inches (1.905 cm) away from theedge of the device 105. As indicated above, the device 105 can have twolayers (for example, the outer portion and the inner portion) or threelayers (for example, the outer portion, the inner portion, and a paddinglayer between the outer portion and the inner portion).

Both the outer portion 125 and inner portion 120 materials can be anypattern or color, such as a solid color, camouflage, animal print,striped, checked, paisley, argyle, plaid, or any combination thereof.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, and 8B show a firearm 110 with a device 105 in use ina rack 750. The rack 750 can have one or more depressions, each of whichis sized to accommodate a firearm 110 by, for example, supporting thebarrel of a firearm 110 while one end of the firearm 110 rests on a baseof the rack 750 or on the ground. The device 105 is shown fitting aroundthe barrel of the firearm 110, between the firearm 110 and the rack 750.When used in this way, the device 105 can prevent scratches fromappearing on the firearm 105 when the firearm 110 is placed in andremoved from the rack 750. Also, a firearm 105 that may be elevated intemperature can be placed into the rack 750 without concern that heatfrom the firearm could cause an adverse interaction between the firearm110 and the rack 750, more specifically between the barrel of thefirearm 110 and the paint on the rack 750.

Although the device 105 is described as including one or more magnets tohold the firearm 110, in other implementations, the device 105 caninclude any suitable mechanism to allow for reversible attachment of thedevice 105 to the firearm 110. Some examples of such suitable mechanismscan include one or more of: straps with hook and loop closures (forexample, Velcro®), grommets and laces, ties, snaps, buttons, buckles,hooks, adhesive, tape, bands (for example, rubber bands, metal bands),and the like.

Although a few variations have been described in detail above, othermodifications or additions are possible. In particular, further featuresand/or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein.For example, the implementations described above may be directed tovarious combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed featuresand/or combinations and subcombinations of several further featuresdisclosed above. In addition, the logic flow depicted in theaccompanying figures and/or described herein does not require theparticular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirableresults. The phrases “based on” and “based on at least” are usedinterchangeably herein. Other implementations may be within the scope ofthe following claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An apparatus comprising: an outer layer; an innerlayer; and at least two magnets between the outer layer and the innerlayer, the at least two magnets configured to hold the outer layer andthe inner layer in place on a barrel of a firearm.
 22. The apparatus ofclaim 21, further comprising a padding layer between the outer layer andthe inner layer.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the outer layeris configured to resist friction.
 24. The apparatus of claim 21, whereinthe inner layer and the outer layer in their entireties are configuredto be in front of a trigger of the firearm in a direction along a lengthof the firearm.
 25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the outer layerand the at least two magnets configured to be located at a singlelocation on the firearm regardless of whether the firearm is being usedfor firing.
 26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the inner layer ismade of one or more of: cloth, felt, padding, plush material, syntheticmaterial, artificial fur, animal fur, sheepskin, and silk.
 27. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein the inner layer is configured to be usedto clean at least one of debris, gunpowder, and dirt on the barrel ofthe firearm.
 28. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising acenterline, the centerline being aligned with the barrel of the firearmwhen the firearm is in use and with at least one magnet on each sidecenterline of the apparatus.
 29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein theat least two magnets are made of a same material and have a same shape.30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a shape of each of the outerlayer and the inner layer is one of elliptical, oval, and circular. 31.The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a diameter of each of the outer layerand the inner layer allows each of the outer layer and the inner layerto cover more than half of the barrel of the firearm.
 32. The apparatusof claim 31, wherein the diameter is 6 inches or more than 6 inches. 33.The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the diameter is 6.75 inches or morethan 6.75 inches.
 34. An apparatus comprising: an outer portion made ofone or more of: leather, polyurethane, imitation leather, regeneratedleather, bonded leather, canvas, coated canvas, suede, heavy cloth,reptile skin, and sheepskin, the outer portion having one of elliptical,oval, and circular shapes; an inner portion made of one or more of:cloth, felt, padding, plush material, synthetic material, artificialfur, animal fur, sheepskin, and silk, the inner portion having one ofelliptical, oval, and circular shapes, a diameter of each of the outerportion and the inner portion allowing each of the outer portion and theinner portion to cover more than half of the barrel of the firearm, thediameter being between 6 inches and 10 inches; at least two magnetsbetween the outer portion and the inner portion, the at least twomagnets configured to hold the outer portion and the inner portion inplace on a barrel of a firearm when the firearm is being used forfiring, the inner portion and the outer portion in their entiretiesbeing in front of a trigger of the firearm in a direction along a lengthof the firearm; and a centerline, the centerline being aligned with thebarrel of the firearm when the firearm is in use and with at least onemagnet on each side of the centerline.
 35. The apparatus of claim 34,wherein the at least two magnets are made of a same material and have asame shape.
 36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the apparatus furthercomprises a padding layer between the outer portion and the innerportion
 37. A method comprising: applying an apparatus to a barrel of afirearm, the apparatus comprising: an outer portion; an inner portion;and at least two magnets between the outer portion and the innerportion, the at least two magnets configured to hold the outer portionand the inner portion in place on the barrel of the firearm; and placingthe firearm with the applied apparatus on a support object.
 38. Themethod of claim 37, wherein the firearm is placed on the support objectby overlaying the applied apparatus on the support object.
 39. Themethod of claim 37, wherein the applied apparatus minimizes transfer ofvibration, force, and heat generated when the firearm is discharged to auser discharging the firearm.
 40. The method of claim 37, wherein theapparatus further comprises a padding layer between the outer portionand the inner portion.